I'm not going to lie ... I have (perhaps, here, "had" would be the better word) somewhat of an ego over what I thought was my reading prowess.
That's all crumbled to pieces.
Recently, much to my delight, I've been given some Barnes and Noble gift cards. I've carried these cards in my wallet, ready at a moment's notice to indulge a fancy and pop into the bookstore without any remorse.
Yesterday, I had the bright idea of how to spend my well-loved credit. I would go online and find the miraculous list that enumerates the top 100 books to read in your lifetime.
"Surely," I thought laughingly to myself, "I have read a sizable portion of these books." (By sizable, I meant 40 to 50 percent.) I'll be the first to admit, I've never even considered picking up a Faulkner book. And I'm all too painfully aware that I have yet to finish the Austen library. Still, I thought.
But here I ran into problem #1: There are untold numbers of lists from "experts" claiming to know the 100 books you must read. Time magazine. The New York Times. The BBC. The People's Choice. Or Doug. (Here, you might be asking yourself "Who's Doug?" The answer is: I don't know.) The Nation's top 16th book is "Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space." Excuse me? (Watch, now my comments will be full of: "Captain Underpants changed my life." "It's a must-read, Rachel. Don't judge a book by its cover." "The film adaption is coming out this summer!")
Discouraged with this bleak outlook on humanity, I settled on Time magazine's list. I highlighted the books I've read. Thirteen. That's it. I started crying in my Cheerios.
Then my mom comes out with more lists made by more (apparently) qualified people -- like Doug.
From these lists, of which neither of us have read 50 percent, we're making our own Top 100 books list. I'm feeling pretty saucy.
3 comments:
Read away Rachael. Anything but Uncle Tom's Cabin, or any of the philosophers. I was saving them until after I had my first baby. She's 30 now. I just can't get into anything that's longer than a potty break. My attention span hasn't got any longer since I gave birth.
I have to say, Captain Underpants is a favorite in my classroom. It's very hard to keep on the shelf!
You are so cute. I love your posts. Don't get discouraged about other peoples lists! I like that you are making your own, that's whats important. I have read many books that I absolutely adored and may never be on any list. I will recommend a few of my faves:
The Princess Bride
The Partner
A Child Called It
Switching Time
What Dreams May Come
Any of Candace Bushnell's Books (If you're a Sexy and the City fan) She knows how to write about scandal and the high society.
Anyways, the books that I have NOT read on those lists doesn't depress me. What makes me angry is how many I have on my shelf with bookmarks in them that are not finished! I must force myself to read again but these darn TV shows make themselves too easy to watch online when I have spare time!!
Okay, I think I've rambled enough. :)
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